The Players: Rory McIlroy misses cut as Adam Svensson holds halfway lead at TPC Sawgrass | Golf News

Adam Svensson holds the halfway mark on the bottom nine, with Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa also in contention; Rory McIlroy missed the cut in five over after rounds of 76 and 73; Watch The Players all weekend on Sky Sports Golf

Rory McIlroy’s hopes of returning to No. 1 at The Players are over after missing out on a fourth major championship at TPC Sawgrass.

McIlroy struggled off the tee and on the greens during an uncertain opening round of 76 at the PGA Tour’s flagship event, with the world No. 3 sitting on six for the tournament and five strokes outside the cut that projected when a thunderstorm finally came to an end on Friday. toy.

The 33-year-old returned on Saturday morning to complete the final eight holes and started with a birdie at the par-five 11th, although his hopes of escape ended with a run of four consecutive pars on the back nine before tap-in for a birdie at the par-five 16 th

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Rory McIlroy hit his longest drive of the week on the par-five 16th at TPC Sawgrass

McIlroy then entered a frustrating week with a bogey on the final hole to close with a one-over 73, seeing him miss the cut at a PGA Tour event for the first time since July and the sixth time in his Players Championship career.

Adam Svensson took a two-shot lead on nine under at the halfway stage, with world No. 2 Scottie Scheffler in second and two-time major champion Collin Morikawa in third on six under along with Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Min Woo Lee and Ben Griffin.

Adam Svensson holds the 36-hole lead for the first time in his PGA Tour career

How Svensson sets Sawgrass pace

Svensson, holding a share of the lead overnight, missed the 12-foot par to save the par at the third – which opened the hole of the day – but rolled in from the same distance for the fifth birdie and returned to eight under.

Bezuidenhout bogeyed the seventh when he found the trees off the tee and entered the group two out of the lead when he bogeyed the par-five nine, while Scheffler opened the day with a birdie on the par-five 11th to also enter the group at six under.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout shared the top spot with two bogeys in the last three holes

Scheffler squandered a good chance on the 16th but birdied to take one of the lead, while Svensson recovered a free near the tee on the par-five ninth to make an improbable birdie and extend his advantage.

“I think it’s coming,” Svensson said after his second-round 67. “I’ve been doing really well for the past couple of weeks. It’s the first time in my career I’m confident with the putter, and it’s true. It’s been amazing.”

Just 11 strokes separate the 75 players who made the cut, with Shane Lowry and 2021 champion Justin Thomas among those who will advance to the cut mark in two.

The third round will be played in threes and with a two-tee start, with organizers hoping to have the 54 holes completed by Saturday afternoon to get the tournament back on schedule before the final round.

Watch Players at the weekend live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the third round continues all day on Saturday on Sky Sports Golf, with bonus feed and action available via the red button.

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